Nevertell

February 1, 2020
Born in a gulag, 12-year-old Lina has known only deprivation, pain, and cold, but a daring escape proves that the outside world holds more mystery than she could have ever imagined. Everyone inside the wire knows that the chances of surviving an escape are minimal. But when plucky Lina is drawn into a madcap breakout scheme, she agrees to help; her best friend, Bogdan, determined to protect Lina, follows. Both children are desperate to reconnect with lost family and forge new lives outside. Their escape is thwarted at every turn, however, by mythic elements from forbidden tales that turn out to be frighteningly real: hidden powers, ghost hounds, and a preternaturally omnipresent sorceress possessing both a fanatical vendetta and a heart-wrenching secret. Orton weaves a somewhat far-fetched tale, seemingly drawing more on fantasy of her own devising than on Russia's own rich folklore. As a result, the two salient aspects of the story--the Stalinist-era purges and prison camps and the magic--never fully cohere, and small gaps in believability tarnish what could have been a fascinating story. Although the story is rife with interesting personalities, Orton does little to flesh them out, and the limited third-person narration does little to advance the development of characters other than Lina. The story is largely redeemed, however, by some truly beautiful images and relationships; the warm friendship between Bogdan and Lina is a particular delight. Lina is literally Caucasian; Bogdan is Tuvan. Cai's scratchy, flowing chapter heads enhance the fantastical atmosphere. A subtle, haunting debut. (Historical fantasy. 9-12)

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April 1, 2020

Gr 4-8-Eleven-year-old Lina lives with her mother Katya in a Siberian work prison in Stalin's Russia. Her mother arranges her escape with other prisoners, including her friend Bogdan, an amateur cartographer. Lina's goal is to reunite with her grandmother in Moscow and return to help her mother, but trouble ensues. Lina runs afoul of a spirit hunter named Svetlana who uses ghost wolves to trap souls. Lina and Bogdan attempt to continue their journey, escaping from Svetlana while picking up a ghost girl who says only, "Nevertell." Lina's necklace, gifted by Katya, acts as a magical talisman that helps the children and bolsters Lina's burgeoning plant magic. A few surprise twists bring Lina's quest to an unexpected conclusion. Orton's debut novel utilizes an unusual setting for its fantasy adventure. Details of prison life, while age appropriate, seem grimly realistic, as does the frigid Siberian weather Lina encounters. Orton's straightforward style is readable with detailed world-building. Lina and Bogdan's skirmishes with guards, the weather, and Svetlana create an everpresent feeling of danger that gives the plot urgency, despite a journey that leads Lina and Bogdan in loops. There are a few places where the story struggles to explain itself-a few of the action scenes seem inserted rather than organic, and readers may wonder about the characters' complacency when things take a sharp U-turn near the conclusion. VERDICT An intriguing first novel with equal parts adventure and magic; an additional purchase.-Caitlin Augusta, Stratford Library Association, CT

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